You're Not A Real Snowboarder Until You Have A Private Helicopter by Josh Engen

I'm always a little confused by which franchises video game developers choose to reboot. Games like 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum are no-brainers, because previous Batman games weren't even worth stealing. But Batman is a well-known character who requires a substantial storyline; anything less would be a waste of the source material. But the SSX series, on the other hand, is about sweet snowboarding tricks and trying not to die in an avalanche. So, what's the point of rebooting the franchise? Wouldn't a standard sequel essentially perform the same function?

Either way, EA is kicking off their reminted SSX franchise in February, and it's shaping up to be an outstanding little title. Technologically speaking, the game's most impressive feature (in fact, some would call it the defining feature) is EA Canada's use of NASA satellite data to create their mountain ranges. Yup, when players are selecting their slope of choice, they are choosing from mountain ranges that actually exist on planet earth.

In fact, the menu system is even a Google-Maps-inspired globe that allows you select a slope from, well, basically every major mountain range on earth. You can choose from locales like Patagonia, Antarctica, and New Zealand, not to mention big guns like the Himalayas and the Alps, to name a few. Once you've selected which slope will be turning your femurs into bendy straws, a convenient personal helicopter is kind enough to dump you onto the mountain.

Conceptually speaking, EA's use of NASA imagery was a brilliant idea—almost too brilliant, actually, as the use of real-life mountain rages actually makes very little difference. See, SSX, just like its predecessors, is a game about hyperbolic tricks and speed. Reality plays a very tiny role in the SSX equation. In fact, EA has taken so many liberties with these slopes that they bare almost no resemblance to the mountain ranges that they were purportedly taken from. The Great Wall of China, for example, doesn't actually extend into the mountains in Macau, but since the developers wanted something for players to grind on, it does now.

"These are real-life mountains, but were going to arcade the hell out of them," explained Todd Batty, creative director for SSX. "We're taking whatever creative liberties we want with them. The Great Wall of China isn't really at the base of the Himalayas, but it's in that same region of the world. That's good enough for SSX."

And Batty definitely has the right attitude. In previous SSX titles, the setting has been secondary to the gameplay. So, even though NASA's topographical imagery is a good idea, it really shouldn't undermine the caricatural nature that's at the core of SSX. By elevating the importance of gameplay and sprinkling in a few exceptional subtleties, Batty and his team may have finally engineered the SSX title that fans have been waiting for.

SSX is sporting 3 distinct flavors of gameplay: Race it, Trick it, Survive it. The Race it, and Trick it modes are exactly what you would expect from an SSX title; players win and loose based on their quickness and the difficulty/frequency of their tricks. However, the Survive it mode is a new addition to the series. "A couple of goals we had was to add something new to the game," explained Batty. "We thought it would be awesome to make it to the end of the level without dying. We wanted to make it about survival, so we wanted to find out the craziest **** people were doing now and put that in a video game." Think of these levels like the boss fights in your favorite platformer.

Even though gameplay is king in SSX, the graphics don't slouch. They may not live up to a comparison with Battlefield 3, but they're impressive in their own right. Each mountain is realistically rendered, with just enough exaggeration to remind you that you're playing an SSX title. Also, the UI is simple and intuitive. Filling up your trick meter throws you in to "Tricky mode," which allows you to execute a few overblown super tricks and reminds you how lame reality actually is. These tricks are coupled with some impressive camera work and some world-bending special effects.

Don't worry, EA hasn't forgotten about the multiplayer component. In fact, they've obviously spent a fair amount of time working out their new features. Players will be able to post their high scores and best times. You'll also be able to challenge your friend's best time to a Need For Speed-inspired ghost race. You can even let your own ghosts rack up wins without even powering on your console. Plus, EA is planning to run a steady stream of Global Events. These events might last for days, hours, or even a single run.

Perhaps EA's decision to reboot the franchise wasn't driven by character development or writing, like most reboots, but by a desire to highlight the symmetry between the SSX of 2000 and the SSX of 2012: a desire to return the franchise to its roots. Just like the 2000 iteration, next year's SSX title is technologically impressive by today's standards, but it doesn't lose sight of its own identity. Despite its photorealistic textures, polished physics, and NASA-infused topographical maps, SSX is still about sweet snowboarding tricks and trying not to die in an avalanche—just the way it should be.

So, maybe EA's decision wasn't as confusing as I originally thought. And maybe SSX is the sequel/reboot that fans have been waiting for. I guess we'll have to wait until February to find out for sure.

By
Josh Engen
CCC Contributing Writer

Game Features:

Be Strong – Take on multiple enemies with Armor mode, mince them with heavy weapons, or squash them by kicking cars.

Be Fast – Get to the action quickly with a power jump, ledge grab, and slide round the environment with amazing agility.

Be Invisible – Use Stealth mode to set traps, hit and run your enemies, or snipe from a concealed position.

Be The Weapon – With the Nanosuit you choose how you want to play. Fully customize your suits upgrades and adapt your combat tactics for any scenario.